The clinical presentation of Covid-19 varies from patient to patient and understanding individual genetic susceptibility to the disease is therefore vital to prognosis, prevention, and the development of new treatments.
For the first time, Italian scientists have been able to identify the genetic and molecular basis of this susceptibility to infection as well as to the possibility of contracting a more severe form of the disease. The research will be presented to the 53rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics, being held entirely on-line due to the Covid-19 pandemic, today [Saturday].
Professor Alessandra Renieri, Director of the Medical Genetics Unit at the University Hospital of Siena, Italy, will describe her teams GEN-COVID project to collect genomic samples from Covid patients across the whole of Italy in order to try to identify the genetic bases of the high level of clinical variability they showed. Using whole exome sequencing (WES)[1] to study the first data from 130 Covid patients from Siena and other Tuscan institutions, they were able to uncover a number of common susceptibility genes that were linked to a favorable or unfavorable outcome of infection. We believe that variations in these genes may determine disease progression, says Prof Renieri. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the results of WES in Covid-19.
Searching for common genes in affected patients against a control group did not give statistically significant results with the exception of a few genes. So the researchers decided to treat each patient as an independent case, following the example of autism spectrum disorder. In this way we were able to identify for each patient an average of three pathogenic (disease-causing) mutations involved in susceptibility to Covid infection, says Prof Renieri. This result was not unexpected, since we already knew from studies of twins that Covid-19 has a strong genetic basis.
Although presentation of Covid is different in each individual, this does not rule out the possibility of the same treatment being effective in many cases. The model we are proposing includes common genes and our results point to some of them. For example, ACE2 remains one of the major targets. All our Covid patients have an intact ACE2 protein, and the biological pathway involving this gene remains a major focus for drug development, says Prof Renieri. ACE2 is an enzyme attached to the outer surface of several organs, including the lungs, that lowers blood pressure. It serves as an entry point for some coronaviruses, including Covid-19.
These results will have significant implications for health and healthcare policy. Understanding the genetic profile of patients may allow the repurposing of existing medicines for specific therapeutic approaches against Covid-19 as well as speeding the development of new antiviral drugs. Being able to identify patients susceptible to severe pneumonia and their responsiveness to specific drugs will allow rapid public health treatment interventions. And future research will be aided, too, by the development of a Covid Biobank accessible to academic and industry partners.
The researchers will now analyze a further 2000 samples from other Italian regions, specifically from 35 Italian Hospitals belonging to the GEN-COVID project.[2]
Our data, although preliminary, are promising, and now we plan to validate them in a wider population, says Prof Renieri. Going beyond our specific results, the outcome of our study underlines the need for a new method to fully assess the basis of one of the more complex genetic traits, with an environmental causation (the virus), but a high rate of heritability. We need to develop new mathematical models using artificial intelligence in order to be able to understand the complexity of this trait, which is derived from a combination of common and rare genetic factors.
We have developed this approach in collaboration with the Siena Artificial Intelligence Lab, and now intend to compare it with classical genome-wide association studies[3] in the context of the Covid-19 Host Genetics Initiative, which brings together the human genetics community to generate, share, and analyze data to learn the genetic determinants of COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and outcomes. As a research community, we need to do everything we can to help public health interventions move forward at this time.
Chair of the ESHG conference, Professor Joris Veltman, Dean of the Biosciences Institute at Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, said: We are very excited to have this work on the genetics of COVID19 susceptibility presented as one of our late-breaking abstract talks at the ESHG. Our Italian colleagues present the first insight into the role of genetic susceptibility influencing the severity of the response to a COVID19 infection. It needs to be expanded to encompass much larger populations, but it is impressive to see the speed at which research on this virus has proceeded in just a few months time.
Originally posted here:
New Genetic Identification of COVID-19 Susceptibility Will Aid Treatment - SciTechDaily
- Genetics - Definition, History and Impact | Biology Dictionary - June 2nd, 2024
- Gene | Definition, Structure, Expression, & Facts | Britannica - June 2nd, 2024
- Raha Kapoor's blue eyes remind fans of her great-grandfather, Raj Kapoor; here's what genetics says - IndiaTimes - December 30th, 2023
- Human genetics | Description, Chromosomes, & Inheritance - December 13th, 2023
- BASIC GENETICS INFORMATION - Understanding Genetics - NCBI Bookshelf - December 13th, 2023
- Introduction to Genetics - Open Textbook Library - December 13th, 2023
- "When them genetics kick in its all over" - NBA fans send in rib-tickling reactions as LeBron James attends Zhuri James' volleyball game -... - October 16th, 2023
- David Liu, chemist: We now have the technology to correct misspellings in our DNA that cause known genetic diseases - EL PAS USA - April 7th, 2023
- World Health Day 2023: Understanding the science of Epi-genetics and how to apply it in our daily lives - Free Press Journal - April 7th, 2023
- Genetics - National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) - March 29th, 2023
- GENETICS 101 - Understanding Genetics - NCBI Bookshelf - March 29th, 2023
- People always think Im skinny because of good genetics theyre shocked when they see what I used to lo... - The US Sun - March 29th, 2023
- Forensics expert explains 'genetic genealogy' process believed to be used in Kohberger's arrest - KTVB.com - January 6th, 2023
- Idaho student murders: What is genetic genealogy, a tool reportedly used to help capture the suspect? - FOX 10 News Phoenix - January 6th, 2023
- What is a Genetic Counselor and How Can They Help You Navigate Your Healthcare Journey? - ABC4.com - December 3rd, 2022
- Ancient Art and Genetics Reveal Origin of World's Most Expensive Spice - The Wire Science - June 26th, 2022
- Myriad Genetics Teams Up with Epic to Make Genetic Testing Accessible to More Patients with Electronic Health Record (EHR) Integration - GlobeNewswire - June 26th, 2022
- Obesity and genetics: Expert shares insights - Hindustan Times - June 26th, 2022
- Researchers discover genetic variants that increase Alzheimer's risk - WCVB Boston - June 26th, 2022
- Where science meets fiction: the dark history of eugenics - The Guardian - June 26th, 2022
- Clinical Conference: A Discussion with BASE10 Genetics - Skilled Nursing News - June 26th, 2022
- Genetics Really Said Copy And Paste: People Are Amazed At How Similar This Woman Looks To Her Dad In These 5 Recreation Photos - Bored Panda - June 26th, 2022
- 49 Genetic Variants That Increase the Risk of Varicose Veins Identified - Technology Networks - June 26th, 2022
- Genetic relationships and genome selection signatures between soybean cultivars from Brazil and United States after decades of breeding | Scientific... - June 26th, 2022
- Earlham woman loses weight with ChiroThin after her own doctor told her "genetics" wouldn't allow that to happen | Paid Content - Local 5 -... - June 26th, 2022
- Science and genetics used to boost Fernside farm - New Zealand Herald - June 26th, 2022
- Genetics-based guidelines to buying a bull at an auction - Farmer's Weekly SA - June 26th, 2022
- Polio: we're developing a safer vaccine that uses no genetic material from the virus - The Conversation - June 26th, 2022
- 7 lifestyle habits which can halve your risk of dementia - World Economic Forum - June 26th, 2022
- Addressing the 'Trust Factor': South Carolina Researchers Tackle Health Disparities Using Genetics - Physician's Weekly - June 8th, 2022
- Dumb luck, genetics? Why have some people never caught COVID-19? | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah - June 8th, 2022
- Genetics Breakthrough in Sea Urchins to Aid in Biomedical Research - Scripps Institution of Oceanography - June 8th, 2022
- Genetic Control Of Autoimmune Disease Mapped To Cellular Level - Bio-IT World - June 8th, 2022
- Bazelet to Supply Its Federally Legal Cannabis Genetics to DEA Approved Research Entities for Rigorous Scientific Research on the Clinical Effects of... - June 8th, 2022
- Alameda County Awaits Key Decision Regarding The Use of Genetic Testing in Asbestos Cases - JD Supra - June 8th, 2022
- Diversity in Genetic Research Is Key to Enhancing Treatment of Chronic Diseases in Africa - Technology Networks - June 8th, 2022
- CSU partners with American Hereford Association on genetics research - Beef Magazine - June 8th, 2022
- Unraveling the Tangled History of Polar Bears to Brown Bears Using Genetic Sequencing - Nature World News - June 8th, 2022
- Did My Lifestyle or Genetics Cause ATTR-CM? Learning More About This Heart Condition That Often Goes Misdiagnosed - SurvivorNet - June 8th, 2022
- Your genes affect your education. Here's why that's controversial. - Big Think - June 8th, 2022
- Study mines cancer genetics to help with targeted treatment - ABC News - April 26th, 2022
- It's in the genetics - Deccan Herald - April 26th, 2022
- Genetic, clinic and histopathologic characterization of BRCA-associated hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in southwestern Finland | Scientific... - April 26th, 2022
- Treating, preventing cancer beyond genetics: U of A researcher - Edmonton Journal - April 26th, 2022
- Lionheart Cannabis' genetic strains stand the test of time - Billings Gazette - April 26th, 2022
- PhD Candidate in Rare Genetic Diseases job with NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU | 291220 - Times Higher Education - April 26th, 2022
- Armidale researchers hope genetic selection will be key to raising steaks with lower emissions - ABC News - April 26th, 2022
- How a Venture Investor with a PhD in Genetics Helped This Biotech Firm Get Started, Funded, and Acquired - Inc. - October 5th, 2021
- The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition Announces a Groundbreaking Project to Explore the Genetics of MSA - Johnson City Press (subscription) - October 5th, 2021
- This startup wants to keep your dog alive longer based on genetic info - The American Genius - October 5th, 2021
- Threatened rattlesnakes' inbreeding makes species more resistant to bad mutations - The Ohio State University News - October 5th, 2021
- Opportunities in the Animal Genetics Market to 2026: Asia Pacific Set to Witness Rapid Growth in - GlobeNewswire - October 5th, 2021
- The Jackson Laboratory appoints Dr. Lon Cardon as its next president and chief executive officer - Yahoo Finance - October 5th, 2021
- Genetic discrimination: The next great health battle likely to wash up on NZ shores - Newstalk ZB - October 5th, 2021
- Sarepta Therapeutics Opens Genetic Therapies Center of Excellence in Columbus, Ohio - Yahoo Finance - October 5th, 2021
- Supreme Court issues notice to government on admission to Medical Genetics courses - The Hindu - October 5th, 2021
- 'Forest Genetics and the Tree of Life': Local forester to speak at Weldon Baptist about God, living things - The Daily Herald - October 5th, 2021
- My mother and I have the same mental health disorders. But is it genetic? - Broadview Magazine - October 5th, 2021
- Researchers unravel the genetic cause of a childhood disorder and a potential way to prevent it with drugs - FierceBiotech - October 5th, 2021
- Germline genetic testing can benefit all cancer patients as a routine practice in cancer care - PRNewswire - May 27th, 2021
- Increasing genetic diversity in crops is important - Farm Progress - May 27th, 2021
- Atlas of Cocaines Effects on Gene Expression Mapped at Single-Cell Level in Fruit Fly Brain - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News - May 27th, 2021
- Genetic breakthrough could save farmed salmon from flavobacteriosis - The Fish Site - May 27th, 2021
- What genetic analysis reveals about the ancestry of South Africa's Afrikaners - The Conversation CA - May 27th, 2021
- People with rare diseases being left behind by Irish health system - The Irish Times - May 27th, 2021
- Discovery of a new genetic cause of hearing loss illuminates how inner ear works - National Science Foundation - May 27th, 2021
- 'Genelection': Should We Select Children Based on Their Genetic Scores? - American Council on Science and Health - May 27th, 2021
- How Big Data Are Unlocking the Mysteries of Autism - Scientific American - May 2nd, 2021
- Demand for Genetic and DNA Testing Spurring Adoption of Genealogy Products and Services: Fact.MR - BioSpace - May 2nd, 2021
- Researchers Create CRISPR 'On-Off Switch' to Control Inherited Genetic Problems Without Changing DNA - Good News Network - May 2nd, 2021
- Genetic Counseling, the barriers to access, and how we overcome them - WFMZ Allentown - May 2nd, 2021
- Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, young Winston Salem boy improves with new medication - WXII12 Winston-Salem - May 2nd, 2021
- Google News' "Genetics" Section Is Full of Articles About People Named Gene - Futurism - February 14th, 2021
- Global Animal Genetics Market Forecast to 2027 by Product (Poultry, Porcine, Bovine, Canine), Material (Semen and Embryo), and Services (DNA Typing,... - February 14th, 2021
- Genetics the next frontier of healthcare - Bangkok Post - Bangkok Post - February 14th, 2021
- Front Range Biosciences Introduces A New Class of THCv Genetics That Will Boost Market Opportunities for New Consumer Experiences and Functional... - February 14th, 2021
- Canine genetics, health to be explored at summit - VeterinaryPracticeNews.com - February 14th, 2021
- Drug Resistance Conferring Mutation and Genetic Diversity of Mycobacte | IDR - Dove Medical Press - February 14th, 2021
- Genetic Origins of Canine Hip Dysplasia Evaluated in Validation Study - Business Wire - February 14th, 2021
- Genetic analysis of symptoms yields new insights into PTSD - Yale News - January 29th, 2021